AP English Nortos
Wide Sargasso Sea Journal #2
In the novel “Wide Sargasso Sea” Jean Rhys uses inference instead of narrative statement. She uses inference to hint at obeah and zombification in part two of her book. The reader has to be a carful reader in order to pick up on these references that Rhys uses and this will allow them to make sense of what happens to Antoinette. A reference is something that is in relation to, or is connected to something else. In her novel, Rhys uses reference several times towards the practices of zombification and obeah. As Antoinette follows Christophine into her house, Antoinette notices a heap of chicken feathers. Rhys writes, “But after I noticed the heap of chicken feathers in one corner, I did not look round anymore” (Rhys 117). When it comes to zombification chicken feathers, especially ones from a male are said to be one of the things used. Antoinette, while sitting in Bertha’s room with her, noticed white powder that was all over the floor. Rhys writes, “As I stepped into her room I noticed the white powder strewn all over the floor” (136). White powder is another substance that was said to be used in obeah and zombification. These references help explain what happens to Antoinette/Bertha when they were in England. They help because zombification explains why Antoinette went crazy there. She was turned into a zombie and was unable to control herself. This also extends the analogy that is parallel to Victorian marriage. The analogy is that Victorian marriage and zombification are the same for Antoinette. She is controlled in both of them and is not able to have control of herself.
In the novel “Wide Sargasso Sea” Jean Rhys uses inference instead of narrative statement. She uses inference to hint at obeah and zombification in part two of her book. The reader has to be a carful reader in order to pick up on these references that Rhys uses and this will allow them to make sense of what happens to Antoinette. A reference is something that is in relation to, or is connected to something else. In her novel, Rhys uses reference several times towards the practices of zombification and obeah. As Antoinette follows Christophine into her house, Antoinette notices a heap of chicken feathers. Rhys writes, “But after I noticed the heap of chicken feathers in one corner, I did not look round anymore” (Rhys 117). When it comes to zombification chicken feathers, especially ones from a male are said to be one of the things used. Antoinette, while sitting in Bertha’s room with her, noticed white powder that was all over the floor. Rhys writes, “As I stepped into her room I noticed the white powder strewn all over the floor” (136). White powder is another substance that was said to be used in obeah and zombification. These references help explain what happens to Antoinette/Bertha when they were in England. They help because zombification explains why Antoinette went crazy there. She was turned into a zombie and was unable to control herself. This also extends the analogy that is parallel to Victorian marriage. The analogy is that Victorian marriage and zombification are the same for Antoinette. She is controlled in both of them and is not able to have control of herself.